Citroen C6 2.7 HDi

The C6 2.7 HDi Is An Impressive Piece Of Automotive Art But Could You Buy One? Andy Enright Reports

Right at this moment, life is good. Im seated in the back of a Citroën C6 2.7 HDi. I have set the TGV-style rear seat to recline, I have lowered the arm rest and pressed a button that sent the front passenger seat way forward, allowing me to stretch my legs as if I was in First Class. The Hydractive suspension is soaking up any minor surface imperfections and I have a lady instructor from Silverstone as my chauffeur.

Citroën have gone out of their way to make me like this car and, so far, its working.

Build
Comfort
Depreciation
Economy
Equipment
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Performance
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To be fair, I think Id like this car without the pretty and capable driver, the posh hotel were staying at and the fine foods and wines were plied with but to let Citroën onto this would be to endanger the gravy train, so I keep my council. The C6 is a hard car not to admire, if only for its sheer bloody mindedness. Citroën are well aware that this is a car that will sell in its hundreds rather than its thousands and as such, have set out to make it a no-compromises proper Citroën of the old school. That doesnt mean its old-fashioned. Far from it, the C6 is jam-packed with high-tech features, but rather its a car of distinction and singularity a car that a French head of state would see fit to ride in. Buying one in this country is quite a different proposition.

Motoring journalists arent always to be relied upon to offer reliable financial advice, but anyone choosing this car over the Jaguar S-TYPE, a model that uses much the same engine and which is priced broadly equivalently, needs to know what theyre getting themselves into. Residual values arent going to be strong and that needs to be taken into account when calculating the cost of ownership. That said, you are getting an awful lot of car. To specify a BMW 530d up to this cars level would tack another £10,000 onto the German cars price, which then makes the residuals look a little more realistic.

"The world seems to spin at a slower rate when youre behind the wheel of a Citroën C6"

Three models are offered. The entry-level C6 2.7HDi opens at £31,895, the Lignage version is priced at £34,995 while the range-topping Exclusive model is a chunky £38,195. Equipment levels are generous right across the range with the entry-level car being fitted with Hydractive suspension, a pedestrian-friendly Active Bonnet, dual zone air-conditioning with soft diffusion, a speed sensitive rear spoiler and laminated side windows.

Theres also automatic headlamps and wipers, nine airbags, ESP with traction control, Xenon lights, tyre pressure monitoring and an on-board trip computer. Thats more equipment than many rivals flagship models but this base C6 also adds cruise control, wheel-mounted stereo controls, electrically adjustable seats and an electric parking brake. Want more? The Lignage version adds a Head-Up Display, directional Xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors and part leather seats. The Exclusive is where Citroën has really gone to town with their Lane Departure Warning System, a NaviDrive Pack with satellite navigation, an integrated hands-free phone, 6 CD autochanger, a JBL stereo system, Mukonto wood finish in the cabin, full leather seating and then the option of a Lounge Pack which includes those wonderful reclining rear seats. The diesel engine is one that is also shared in various forms with all manner of vehicles. Not only can it be found in the C6 but it also pops up in the Peugeot 407, the Jaguar S-TYPE and, in single turbo form, the Land Rover Discovery. Developed jointly between PSA Peugeot Citroën and Ford, its an impressive unit, especially when linked to a sweet-shifting automatic gearbox. I drove it back-to-back with the 3.0-litre petrol engine also offered in the C6 and found it hard to imagine why anybody would choose the petrol-engined car. Performance is strong, with 60mph being dispatched in just 8.

9 seconds with a top speed of 143mph being enough to get the gendarmes interested in your progress down a deserted autoroute. Fuel economy is reasonable, the C6 getting over 41mpg on a run with a combined figure of 32.5mpg. Talking about such prosaic things as fuel economy and performance rather misses the point of the C6.

This is a car thats all about look and feel rather than stats or percentages. Surfing along on a lazy wave of torque watching dumbfounded BMW, Mercedes and Audi drivers come the other way wondering what planet the C6 with its filter feeder face has landed from. The C6 injects a welcome dose of glamour and panache into a market that has been reduced to a shattered husk. Such has been the domination of the German premium marques in the executive saloon market that those mainstream brands that used to do very good business catering to those who either couldnt or wouldnt stump up the premiums to buy German have now largely abandoned the sector.

Cars like the Saab 9-5, the Lexus GS and the Volvo S80 just about scrape by, but Vauxhall and Ford appear to have lost interest and Citroëns partner Peugeot can only really claim success for their 607 in their home market. Can I really, with hand on heart, recommend you buy one of these cars? For most people I cant. If, however, youre prepared to pay a premium for a car thats several steps removed from the executive mainstream, or if youre looking for a car to keep for the longer haul, the Citroën C6 2.7 HDi has its place. Unfortunately, the market its aiming at isnt huge. Whether you see the C6 as a justifiable expense or wilful ostentation, the automotive worlds a richer place for it being around and Citroën should be applauded.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Citroën C6 2.7HDi range
PRICES: £31,895-£38,195 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 230g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.9s / Max Speed 143mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 23.5mpg, (extra urban) 41.5mpg, (combined) 32.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags, ESP, ABS with EBA and EBD, active bonnet, lane departure warning system.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4908/1860/1464mm